Car door



April 1949- I F. DITCHFIELD 2,468,184

CAR DOOR Filed June 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 26, 1949. F. DITCHFIELD 2,468,134

CAR noon Filed June 15, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 llll lll I M/VEN TOE-\- FHGWK D/TCHF/EL D Patented Apr. 26, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CAR DOOR Frank Ditchfield, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Youngstown Steel Door Company, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application .l'une 1 5, 1945, Serial No. 599,683

3 Claims.

This invention relates to car doors and is directed more particularly to metallic car doors embodying corrugated panels.

It is an object of this invention to provide car doors of requisite strength capable of utilizing corrugated panels formed of lightweight ferrous or non-ferrous metals.

A further object is to provide car doors of normal depth, each door utilizing two corrugated panel sheets formed of lightweight metal having corrugations substantially one-half the depth of the door.

A further object is to provide car doors utilizing two corrugated panel sheets formed of lightweight metal having corrugations substantially one-half the depth of the doors, each of the panel sheets being inadequate to serve as a door panel and the two panels being secured together to constitute an adequate door panel for doors of normal depth.

A further object is to provide corrugated doors utilizing lightweight metallic panel sheets capable of being corrugated without splitting.

A further object is to provide corrugated metallic car doors so designed and constructed as to introduce important economies in construction, labor, and cost by the elimination of parts, operations to be performed, machinery and equipment required, die set-ups, and the like.

A further object is to provide car doors of the character set forth which shall accommodate door supporting fixtures in such manner that the overall width of the cars between fixtures shall lie within the prescribed A. A. R. tunnel clearance diagram.

d Other objects of the invention will become clear as the description thereof proceeds.

In the drawings forming part of this specifi cation, V

Fig. 1 is an elevation illustrating a door embodying the instant invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line 2+2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a horizontal section taken on line 3+3- of Fig.1.

Referring to the drawings, the instant invention is embodied in a door designated generally by the reference numeral ill. The door Ill embodies two panel sheets ll and I2, each of which is formed of lightweight metal, as for example, any of the well known narrow gauge regular or alloy steels, or aluminum alloys. The outer panel sheet llis preferablyformed of three panel sections l3, l4 and I5. The inner panel sheet I2 is also preferably formed-of three panel sections l6, l1 and I8. Each section of the outer panel sheet is corrugated horizontally to provide a plurality of alternating crests l9 and troughs 20. The upper horizontal panel section l3 terminates in a partial crest 2|, and the lower horizontal margin of the outer panel section terminates in a partial crest 22 of greater length for a reason which will hereinafter appear. 1

Each section of the inner panel sheet i2 is similarly corrugated to provide a plurality of alternating crests 23 and troughs 24. Theupper horizontal margin of theinner panel section l6 terminates in a partial trough 25 and the lower horizontal margin of the inner panel section [8 terminatesin a partial trough 26 of the same length as the partial crest 22.

The lower horizontal margin of panel section la, the upper and lower horizontal margins of panel section M and the upper horizontal margin of panel section l5 all terminate in partial troughs designated, respectively, by the reference nu-, merals 2'1, 28, 29 and 39. [The lower horizontal margin. of panel section it, the upper and lower horizontal margins of panel section [1, and the upper horizontal margin of panel section I8 terminate in partial crests, the crests at the lower and upper horizontal margins of panel sections [6 and I! being shown and designatedvby the reference numerals 3i and 32.

Adjacent to their forward vertical edges the troughs of the outer panel sections l3, l4 and 15 are inclined forwardly and outwardly as indisateen 33, 34 and 35, the said inclined portions terminating in flanges 36, 31' and 38 which lie in the plane of the crests l9. Adjacent to their rear vertical edges the troughs of the outer panel sections are inclined rearwardly and outwardly as indicated at 39, 40 and 4! and terminate in flanges 42, 43 and 44 which also lie in the plane of the crests l9.

Similarly, the crests 23 of the inner panel sections H5, l! and {8 are inclined forwardly and inwardly adjacent to their forward vertical edges asindicated at tfi; 46 and 41, and rearwardly and" inwardly adjacent to their rear vertical edges, the said latter inclination of'panel' section l5 being I shownat 48. The inclined portions 45, 46 and 41 terminate in fianges s -50 and El lying inthe plane of the troughs 20. The inclined portions of the inner panel sections I", l1 and I8, as exemplified at 48, terminatein flanges whichalso lie in the planeof the troughs 2!]. This flange of panel section [6 is shown at 52.

The door l0 also embodies metallic marginal reinforcing members to which the panel sheets. are secured in-the manufactureof. the. door. The,

reinforcing members comprise an upper horizontal member 53 formed with a depending flange 54, an inwardly extending web 55, an upstanding flange 56, and an inwardly directed flange 5I. Angle members 58 and 59 constitute the lower horizontal reinforcing members and are arranged with the legs 60 and GI vertical and the legs 62 and 63 horizontal and extending toward each other. If desired, the horizontal legs 62 and 63 may be welded together.

The front vertical reinforcing member 64 is substantially Z-shaped in section and includes a rearwardly directed flange 65, an inwardly extending web 66, and a forwardly extending flange 61 which is bent outwardly to form a flange 68 adapted to abut a front door stop 69 secured to a door post I and cooperating with member 64 to resist entry of foreign matter when the door is closed. The rear vertical reinforcing member 'II is substantially W-shaped in section and embodlos a forwardly extending flange I2, an inwardly extending web I3, a rearwardly extending flange 14, which carries a sealing strip I cooperable with a weather strip I6 secured to a door post IT by means of an angle member I8 to resist entry of foreign matter when the door is closed, and an inwardly directed buffer flange I9. Each of the marginal reinforcing members is preferably formed of a material of heavier gauge than the material from which the panel sheets are formed.

The relationship of the panel sheets in the formation of a door panel and. their relationship to the marginal reinforcing members are clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. The panel sections of the outer and inner panel sheets I I and [2 are related in such a manner that the crests 23 of the inner panel sections engage the troughs 20 of the outer panel sections and the troughs 24 of the inner panel sections are opposed to the crests I9 of the outer panel sections. The arrangement is such that a series of horizontally extending box sections is provided in the door panel from top to bottom of the door. At the joint between upper panel sections I3 and I6 and intermediate panel sections I4 and H, which occurs between box sections, the partial trough 28 ofsection [4' and partial crest 32 of section I I are overlapped and disposed between and riveted or otherwise secured to partial trough 21 of section I3 and partial crest 3l' of section I6 as more clearly shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. The intermediate panel sections I4 and I1 and the bottom. panel sections I5 and I8 are similarly jointed between two box sections.

The box section construction is secured as well at the marginal portions of the door and this without the use of. additional backing plates. A box section is obtained along the upper horizontal margin of the door between panel sections I3 and i5 and reinforcing member 53. The partial crest 21 of the outer panel section I3 is secured preferably to the. inner face of the depending flange 54 as by means of rivets or the like. Similarly, the partial trough- 25 of the inner panel.

section I6 is secured to the inner face of the upstanding flangev 56 of the reinforcing member 28.

At the lower margin of the door the partial crest. 22 of the outer panel section I5 is secured preferably to the outer face of the vertical leg 60 of angle member 58' and partial trough 26 of the inner panel section I8 is secured preferably to the inner face of the upstanding leg 6| of the angle 59.

At the front vertical margin of the door a box section is obtained by the securement of flanges 3G, 31 and 38 of the outer panel sections I3, I4 and I5 to the rearwardly extending flange 65 of the reinforcing member 64 and flanges 49, 50 and 5| of the inner panel sections I6, I! and I8 to the forwardly extending flange 61. At the rear vertical margin of the door the flanges 42, 43 and 44 of the outer panel sections are secured to the forwardly extending flange "I2 of reinforcing member II and the flanges of the inner panel sections, such as flange 52 of section I6, are secured to flange 14 of reinforcing member II to form a box section.

It will be apparent frdm the foregoing description that the marginal flanges of the outer panel sheet II lie substantially in the outer plane of the door and the marginal flanges of the inner panel sheet I2 lie substantially in the inner plane of the door. Similarly, the crests I9 in the outer panel sheet II are disposed substantially in the outer plane of the door and the troughs 24 of the inner panel sheet I2 lie substantially in the inner plane of the door. The opposed crests 23 of the inner panel sheet I2 and troughs 20 of the outer panel sheet H lie substantially in the median plane of the door. By virtue of this construction the corrugations formed in the outer and inner panel sheets are only one-half of the depth of the door so that it becomes possible to utilize thin and lightweight corrugated metallic panels in railway house car doors without danger of splitting or creasing the panels in the formation of the corrugations.

As indicated in the drawings, the outer and inner panel sheets are riveted or otherwise secured together between the box sections formed by the panel sheets, thereby causing the separate panel sheets to act as a unitary door panel to resist stresses imposed thereon. In this way, despite the fact that lighter and thin 16, I8 and 20 gauge metallic panel sheets, each of which alone is inadequate to provide a satisfactory door panel, may be utilized in place of the standard corrugated 13 gauge sheets, the arrangement and securement of the panel sheets provide a corrugated door panel of requisite strength and depth.

As more clearly illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, the inwardly inclined portions of the inner panel adjacent to the vertical margins of the door make it impossible for lading to lodge against the inner face of the door so as to impede its opening movement.

The construction at the lower horizontal mar gin of the door, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 2 of the drawings, provides ample room for the reception of a. door supporting lift fixture designated generally by the reference numeral 80. In this manner, the projection of the lift fixture is restricted so that the overall width of the car measured between lift fixtures on opposite sides thereof lies within the prescribed A. A. R. tunnel clearance diagram.

The horizontal legs 62 and 63 of the bottom. reinforcing angle. members 58 and 59 constitute a basev upon which the door is frictionally sup-- ported when in lowered position upon -a. door track 8| secured to the car underframe 82 by means of a plurality of brackets,v one of which is illustrated at 83. The door is retained upon the track by means of a plurality of hook-shaped members 84 which embrace the depending leg 85 of. the door track.

At. the top the upstanding flange 56 of the reinforcing member 53 isreceived between the depending flange 86 of a substantially Z-shaped retaining bar 8'! and the upstanding leg 83 of a trough-shaped header 89 fastened to the depending flange 96 of the customary side plate. The inwardly extending flange 51 of the reinforcing member 53 lies above the header B9 and. cooperates therewith to prevent the entrance of foreign matter into the car over the top of the door.

As a result of the instant invention each pair of inner and outer panel sections is formed on the same die set-up, variations in the height or width of each pair of sections being concentrated in the marginal flanges. The door of the instant invention, moreover, eliminates the customary marginal bridging plates heretofore utilized. Thus the number of die set-ups heretofore required are substantially reduced. A reduction in the number of parts required is, therefore, obtained as well as a reduction in the number of operations to be performed and in the machinery and equipment required therefor. resulting reduction in cost is evident. The normal depth of door of about 1 /2" is maintained.

The box sections created throughout the door panel provide a strength substantially two and one-half times as great as that of open corrugations having a depth equal to the depth of the box sections. As shown the crests and troughs are identical in cross section thereby simplifying and reducing the cost of the die.

It will be apparent that numerous changes and modifications in the details of the invention will be clear to those skilled in the art. It is intended, therefore, that all such modifications and changes be comprehended within this invention, which is to be limited only by the scope of the claims appended hereto.

I claim:

1. A car door comprising a substantially rectangular metallic panel and reinforcing members therefore, said panel consisting of inner and outer sheets formed of lightweight metal and having horizontal corrugations, the troughs of the corrugations of the inner panel sheet and the crests of the corrugations of the outer panel sheet being opposed and lying, respectively, substantially in the inner and outer planes of the door, the crests of the corrugations of the inner panel sheet and the troughs of the corrugations of the outer panel sheet being opposed and lying intermediate the inner and outer planes of the door, means rigidly securing certain of the crests of said inner panel sheet and troughs of said outer panel sheet together so that said panel sheets act as a unitary door panel to resist stresses, said reinforcing members being secured to the margins of said door panel, the troughs of the corrugations of said panel sheets merging gradually into the vertical margins of said panel sheets, the depth of said door being substantially the same as the depth of metallic car doors in general use.

2. A car door comprising a substantially rectangular metallic panel and reinforcing members therefor, said panel consisting of inner and outer sheets formed of lightweight metal and having horizontal corrugations, the troughs of the corrugations of the inner panel sheet and the crests The of the corrugations of the outer panel sheet being opposed and lying, respectively, substantially in the inner and outer planes of the door, the crests of the corrugations of the inner panel sheet and the troughs of the corrugations of the outer panel sheet being opposed and lying substantially in the median plane of the door, means rigidly securing certain of the crests of said inner panel sheet and troughs of said outer panel sheet together so that said panel sheets act as a unitary door panel to resist stresses, said reinforcing members being secured to the margins of said panel sheets, the margins of the inner panel sheet lying substantially in the inner plane of said door and the margins of the outer panel sheet lying substantially in the outer plane of said door, the troughs of the corrugations of said panel sheets merging gradually into the vertical margins of said panel sheets, the depth of said door being substantially the same as the depth of metallic car doors in general use.

3. A car door comprising a substantially rectangular metallic panel and reinforcing members therefor, said panel consisting of inner and outer sheets formed of lightweight metal and having horizontal corrugations, the troughs of the corrugations of the inner panel sheet and the crests of the corrugations of the outer panel sheet being opposed and lying, respectively, substantially in the inner and outer planes of the door, the crests of the corrugations of the inner panel sheet and the troughs of the corrugations of the outer panel sheet being opposed and lying substantially in the median plane of the door, means rigidly securing certain of the crests of said inner panel sheet and troughs of said outer panel sheet together so that said panel sheets act as a, unitary door panel to resist stresses, said reinforcing members being secured to the margins of said panel sheets, the margins of the inner panel sheet lying substantially in the inner plane of said door and the margins of the outer panel sheet lying substantially in the outer plane of said door, the troughs of the corrugations of said panel sheets merging gradually into the vertical margins of said panel sheets, the depth of said door being substantially the same as the depth of metallic car doors in general use, the lower reinforcing members being angular in section and disposed between and secured to the lower margins of said panel sheets, each of said latter reinforcing members having a vertically disposed securing leg and a horizontally disposed door supporting leg.

FRANK DITCHFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 948,733 Knutson Feb. 8, 1910 1,152,011 Doren Aug. 31, 1915 1,241,685 Van Dorn Oct. 2, 1917 1,938,634 McWilliams Dec. 12, 1933 

